Single stage vs progressive reloading presses

[Fullmag]

This has me leaning towards the single stage. I plan to load 3 handgun rounds and possibly a couple rifle. A few hundred rounds of each would last me a bit.

A turret type with and extra tool heads might work out better. That way once the dies are set it will be ready. Mine had six holes it was the Lyman T-mag. Heard good about Redding and RCBS turrets. Hornady lock and load are little different and worth looking into also.

 

[GMediC]

This has me leaning towards the single stage. I plan to load 3 handgun rounds and possibly a couple rifle. A few hundred rounds of each would last me a bit.

If you eventually plan to expand anyway, you could always get a turret and use it as a single stage while you're learning. I know the Lee turret can be used this way, I don't know about the others. As mentioned above, the bonus is having the dies set one time in the turret plates.

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[1775usmarine]

Depends on if you can find a good deal on a used progressive.

 

[VERT]

If you eventually plan to expand anyway, you could always get a turret and use it as a single stage while you're learning. I know the Lee turret can be used this way, I don't know about the others. As mentioned above, the bonus is having the dies set one time in the turret plates.

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Another option would be to just go ahead a buy a new Dillon 550c. They can be used like a turret press or a progressive. If a person has room for only one press, it would be hard to beat the versatility of a 550

 

[DadSmith]

This has me leaning towards the single stage. I plan to load 3 handgun rounds and possibly a couple rifle. A few hundred rounds of each would last me a bit.

My boys came by a week ago and shot up 50 30 06, 300 45lc, 200 44 magnum, and 100 9mm. In about 2 hours. Thats why I got a turret press.

 

[HoosierHunter07]

A turret type with and extra tool heads might work out better. That way once the dies are set it will be ready. Mine had six holes it was the Lyman T-mag. Heard good about Redding and RCBS turrets. Hornady lock and load are little different and worth looking into also.

Turret really seems to make sense. I had only seen single and progressive. But I just watched some videos on youtube and it looks about ideal.

 

[HoosierHunter07]

Depends on if you can find a good deal on a used progressive.

I've thought of that. Did a quick search on Ebay, but haven't really put a lot of effort into it yet.

Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[HoosierHunter07]

Another option would be to just go ahead a buy a new Dillon 550c. They can be used like a turret press or a progressive. If a person has room for only one press, it would be hard to beat the versatility of a 550

I've seen the 550 recommended a lot. If I decide to go all in that's probably the route I'd go.

 

[HoosierHunter07]

My boys came by a week ago and shot up 50 30 06, 300 45lc, 200 44 magnum, and 100 9mm. In about 2 hours. Thats why I got a turret press.

Pretty good variety there. Nice to know the turret has that much versatility. Approximately how long does it take you to switch between them?

 

[1775usmarine]

I've thought of that. Did a quick search on Ebay, but haven't really put a lot of effort into it yet.

Thanks for the suggestion.

In this time I would expect the deals to be slim, but in post panic times they will pop up more often.

 

[Trapper Jim]

That's wild. Cant imagine. Was all that ammo just for you???

Yep. Best year was 25,000 rds in practice, competition and training. Not including rifle and shotgun.

 

[portercounty]

I use a progressive for volume 223 (2 or 3k in a sitting) and a single stage for almost everything else.

 

[Karl-just-Karl]

Pretty good variety there. Nice to know the turret has that much versatility. Approximately how long does it take you to switch between them?

That's one of the bonuses of a turret...

Swapping out the tool head (turret) and the shellholder takes about a minute.

I have a Lyman T-mag with six holes. Two pistol calibers (3-die sets) or three rifle calibers (2-die sets) can be set up in any head at a time. Mix 4-die sets with 2-die rifle sets, you customize it to suit your purpose.

I have 4 turrets and swapping out is easy. Basically, there is just one big bolt in the top.


The downside is that there is some flex since one side is completely open (unlike an "O" frame single stage press). But that one side being open is also very convenient to see what you are doing and accessing your cartridges.

 

[red_zr24x4]

Another option would be to just go ahead a buy a new Dillon 550c. They can be used like a turret press or a progressive. If a person has room for only one press, it would be hard to beat the versatility of a 550

This ^ right here
We have 2 550's very versatile. Spare tool heads are reasonable

 

[DadSmith]

Pretty good variety there. Nice to know the turret has that much versatility. Approximately how long does it take you to switch between them?

I use the lee classic. So it takes about 1 minute since I just pull the one caliber and drop a new one in. Takes longer to adjust the powder. I just use the one auto drum for all the different calibers. Thus the adjusting powder per caliber.

[video=youtube_share;ak7jLfUDydM]https://youtu.be/ak7jLfUDydM[/video]
Fast forward to 1:22

 

[HoosierHunter07]

This ^ right here
We have 2 550's very versatile. Spare tool heads are reasonable

You Dillon guys make it hard to not go for it. Seems like the ones who love their Dillons REALLY love them

 

[HoosierHunter07]

I use the lee classic. So it takes about 1 minute since I just pull the one caliber and drop a new one in. Takes longer to adjust the powder. I just use the one auto drum for all the different calibers. Thus the adjusting powder per caliber.

[video=youtube_share;ak7jLfUDydM]https://youtu.be/ak7jLfUDydM[/video]
Fast forward to 1:22

That was really nice to see. Seems very practical

 

[2in1evtime]

I use a single stage for all my match ammo, use my 550"s for .223 plinking and short runs on handgun ammo, use the 1050 for large runs of 9mm.40,and 45. my family shoots a lot so it was economical to get into the 1050 with auto.

 

[wingrider1800]

I have been loading for over 40 years, and still using the same RCBS Rockchucker press. It is a slow process compared to a progressive but not that big of a deal to load a few hundred rounds over a few days. It is also relaxing if you're stocking up and not rushed because you're out of ammo. I clean and inspect most of my brass a piece at a time and that doesn't fall into the scheme of a progressive.

 

[Goodcat]

with the amount of crap I added to
my mine, I had to load about 20,000 pistol rounds at super cheap bulk price to pay for my all my reloading equipment. You don’t save money, you shoot more.

What kind of volume is needed for a progressive stage press to be worth the extra cost over a single stage? Some people say the single stage is a waste since a lot of people out grow them, but others say it's a good starting point.

Opinions?